Using conceptual models to explore business-ICT alignment in networked value constellations Case studies from the Dutch aviation industry, Spanish electricity industry and Dutch telecom industry

In this paper, we introduce e (3) alignment for inter-organizational business-ICT alignment. With the e (3) alignment framework, we create alignment between organizations operating in an agile networked value constellation-which is a set of organizations who jointly satisfy a customer need-by (1) focusing on the interaction between the organizations in the constellation, (2) considering interaction from four different perspectives, and (3) utilizing conceptual modeling techniques to analyze and create alignment within and between the perspectives. By creating inter-organizational business-ICT alignment between the actors in the constellation, e (3) alignment ultimately contributes to a sustainable and profitable constellation. To actually create alignment, e (3) alignment iteratively takes three specific steps: (1) identification of alignment issues, (2) solution design, and (3) impact analysis. We illustrate our approach with cases from the Dutch aviation industry, Spanish electricity industry, and Dutch telecom industry.